II 



THE ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 



I PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES INVITING OCCUPATION 



The area embraced by the State of New York seems always to 

 have l)een designed as a great natural empire. Its geographical 

 position, its physical features and its natural resources have from 

 early times been favorable and inviting to human occupation. Per- 

 haps no other area upon the continent presents such variations in 

 type of landscape. The soil in its different forms affords the grow- 

 ing bed for numerous types of vegetation, especially food plants, and 

 the great valleys and alluvial plains are covered by heavy deposits 

 of fertile soil, easily cultivated and capable of sustaining immense 

 fields of vegetables and grain. 



To a large extent the superiority of this region is due to the 

 Great Lakes to the north, to the smaller interior lakes and to the 

 numerous river systems that are fed by a vast number of secondary 

 streams and tributaries. A large number of the streams are 

 navigable by canoe to their very headwaters. Because of this fact 

 it was possible for the early Indians to travel from one drainage 

 system to another by means of short carrys. The Hudson from its 

 source affords access to a considerable area. Over the divide near 

 Fort Edward, the Champlain drainage system could be reached. 

 There were two general routes, one that touched Lake George and 

 the other Lake Champlain. These points from remote times were 

 of strategic importance. During colonial days these portages were 

 well fortified by Fort Edward at the point of debarkation on the 

 Hudson, by Fort Ann on Wood creek (the direct Champlain route), 

 and by Fort William Henry at the southern point of Lake George. 

 The Hudson-Champlain portage was 1 1 miles in length. 



Westward along the Mohawk there was an all-water route to the 

 Oneida portage near the present site of the city of Rome. A carry 

 of 8 miles here brought the waters of the Finger Lakes drainage 

 basin within range of the boatsman. Here on the divide the colonists 

 erected Fort Stanwix to guard the route. Through W^ood creek and 

 Oneida lake all the central New York lakes could easily be reached. 

 The Genesee country was tapped either through Irondequoit bay 

 and the mouth of the (ienesce or through tributaries of its lower 



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